Published: 6 November 2026
Pokémon GO’s Festival of Lights has returned as an India-exclusive event, bringing back Pikachu wearing a saree and Pikachu wearing a kurta. The celebration began on Friday, 6 November, at 10:00 a.m. local time and is scheduled to end on Sunday, 8 November, at 8:00 p.m. local time, according to the game’s official announcement.
Saree and kurta Pikachu headline the event
The two India-themed Pikachu variants are appearing in raids during the event. The official notice says Trainers may encounter a Shiny version or one with a Special Background, although those outcomes are not guaranteed. The return of both costumed forms gives collectors another opportunity to add them to their collections while the event is active.
The event is limited to Trainers in India. Pokémon GO has used region-specific celebrations before, but this edition places the country’s Festival of Lights festivities at the centre of the in-game schedule rather than treating them as a global bonus.
Evening Sparkle O’Clock windows
The official schedule lists four five-minute periods when selected event Pokémon will appear more frequently in the wild: 6:00 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 7:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. local time. The listed Pokémon include Charmander, the two costumed Pikachu, Chinchou, Mareep, Camerupt, Litwick, Lampent, Morelull and Tadbulb. Shiny encounters are possible for some of these Pokémon, but remain chance-based.
The announcement gives the four clock times but does not separately spell out a different date-by-date schedule for each window. Players should check the in-game event information during the weekend for any timing changes or additional notices.
Research tasks and bonuses
Branched Timed Research became available from 1 November at 6:00 a.m. local time. Completing it can award XP, Stardust and event stickers, followed by an encounter with either saree Pikachu or kurta Pikachu carrying a Special Background. The event also includes Collection Challenges that award XP and Stardust for catching selected event Pokémon.
- 3× Lure Module duration: Lure Modules last three times as long during the event.
- PokéStop stickers: spinning PokéStops can award stickers featuring the two costumed Pikachu.
- Event effects: the official notice says some event-themed Pokémon will glow.
What Indian players should know
Because the event is India-only, the published local times correspond to Indian Standard Time. The main event window runs through Sunday evening, giving Trainers across the country the same local schedule. The official Pokémon GO website also lists Hindi among the game’s supported languages. Basic gameplay is available at no cost, while optional in-game purchases remain available.
The Festival of Lights is already underway as of this report’s publication on 6 November. Trainers who want the costumed Pikachu or the event research rewards should pay attention to the closing time on 8 November; the official announcement does not promise that these event encounters will remain available after the event ends.
Sources and further reading
- Pokémon GO – official Festival of Lights 2026 announcement
- Gaming Route – event schedule and India-specific details
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